I am now going on almost 3 weeks of no cigs... and it's harder now than it was when I was pregnant. I quit cold turkey then and didn't look back. I actually had my first child naturally without drugs so that I could WALK OUT THE DOOR AND HAVE MY FIRST CIG IN 7 MONTHS! That's called addiction. When I was pregnant with the twins I did the same thing (but remembering the pain from the first one I had to wait until the epi wore off to have my first cig after yet another 7 months)... The funny thing? My doc told me that the stress I put my body under by quitting like I did may have been one of the causes for the premature birth and low birth weight. But I'm glad I did it.
The urge to pop a butt between my lips and take a deep drag will be here for the rest of my days, I know this and I'm willing to put up with it. The reason for me quitting this time? I wish it was because I wanted to be healthier, or that I hated smelling like menthol cigs... but because I met someone who made me WANT to quit - for both of us and for my kids.
I happen to agree with Daz - quoting stats at me and badgering me with the whole "You'll live 10 years longer if you quit" doesn't help - all it does is make me want to act like Denis Leary and say Fuck you as I light up and blow smoke to the heavens. Never mind the fact that the person means well - it’s an addiction that rules over you. My father (who at one point actually did some of the other “recreational” drugs in the 60’s) likens quitting smoking to going through withdrawals from alcohol or heroin. It’s that bad.
Let me suffer in peace - it's all I ask. You don't want me to drag you into my hell just because you couldn't keep your mouth shut about "how proud" you are of me. It was stupid of me to start at 19 and I'm righting that wrong on my own... I don't need to be hit over the head to make me say "You're so right! I was being a putz and should have listened to the great you all along." I’m doing that to myself enough without being reminded about it every time I turn around.